Town boss Mick McCarthy had no complaints about Jordan Spence’s red card which he felt changed the game as Fulham came from behind to beat the Blues 4-1 at Craven Cottage.

Responding to a reporter saying the Cottagers are capable of doing that to any team on their day, McCarthy said: “They can against 10 men, that’s for sure. It didn’t look like happening while we had 11 men on the pitch.

“They started well, they had a good first half. But I thought when we settled into the game we frustrated them, got our goal from a freekick and, well, I’ll never know what would have happened because we got reduced to 10 men.”

Regarding Spence’s dismissal, Town’s first of the season, he added: “It’s a sending off. What’s Jordan said? Sorry. A moment of madness has cost us. That result’s not going to happen with 10 outfield players on the pitch, that’s for sure.

“My beef is with the decision before because I thought [Aboubakar Kamara] fouled Freddie [Sears], I thought he barged Freddie.

“Apparently it was a f***ing shoulder charge, shoulder to shoulder. Not while I’ve got a hole in my backside was it a shoulder charge, it was from behind.

“And the other thing wouldn’t have happened either. It was all borne out of frustration. I don’t think that was the case, I think it was a foul.

“I think [Jordan’s] gone to go and put a sturdy tackle on him and he’s got there late and he’s followed through with it, which was stupid. I’ve no argument with the sending off at all.”

McCarthy had no complaints about his 10-men, despite them conceding four goals in a seven-minute spell.

“I’ve no qualms about the lads out there, they were sticking at it,” he said. “Fulham had opened us up with 11 men in the first half a few times.

“The first goal we got done by the one-two on the halfway line and we didn’t stay with the runner.

“But then I’ve got players playing out of position and doing a really sterling job for me. We just got done and they finished it off.”

In addition to the defeat, McCarthy says the Blues lost another player to an injury: “Wardy’s got a sore groin. I’ve got a three-match suspension for my full-back and that’s not going to help either.

“Callum Connolly was getting to the stage where he could have got injured and I wanted to put Luke Hyam on for 10 minutes to get him on the field.

“If there’s a positive from the game, Luke Hyam’s back playing in the first team, which was lovely. So, we’ll be down to a 14-man squad on Saturday.”

The Town boss admits he’s pleased that the Blues have an FA Cup tie at home to Sheffield United at the weekend when he is likely to include a number of fringe players: “Yes, I’m glad it’s not a league game on Saturday.”

However, he is hopeful that, among others, Adam Webster, who missed tonight’s game with the achilles problem he suffered on Saturday, could be back for the Leeds match the following week.

“I hope so,” he said. “Adam Webster, the best case scenario, the anti-inflammatories work and he’ll be back for Leeds. Worst case scenario he could not be back for Leeds, he could be longer. We need a few bodies back.”

McCarthy says he’s not close to making any additions to his squad - “No, I’m not” - and kept tight-lipped regarding developments on Kieffer Moore’s situation: “There’s always going to be talk about him. I can’t tell you anything.”

However, he confirmed that if the striker who has been recalled from his loan spell with Rotherham plays for Town he can’t play for anyone else other than the Millers this season due to FIFA’s three-club rule.

“That’s correct, or stay with us,” he added. “He can’t play in the cup anyway. That gives us a bit of thinking room, I guess.”

Regarding new signing Aaron Drinan, he says he’s not sure whether the Irishman’s international clearance has come through but hopes he is available for the Sheffield United match.

“I don’t know as yet, we should have it for the game on Saturday. I hope so anyway.”

Photo: TWTD

warwickblue added 13:03 - Jan 3 So........if Spence really is responsible for the fact that we shipped four goals in seven minutes, we can expect to lose the three games during which he's suspended something like 50 - nil ??
3

TimmyH added 14:01 - Jan 3 Mick McCarthy cost us and IS still costing us - get rid!!!!
9

TimmyH added 14:06 - Jan 3 Every penny counts! - @Rensham, Evans won't sack him when he only has 4 months left on his contract when he's been here 5 years and 2 months, what's another 4?
1

1RWR added 15:29 - Jan 3 Rensham: Agree with your first line. Second line won't happen. ME won't pay the £1m 'sack clause' he'll just wait another 4 months & wave goodbye. Can't blame ME for that, everything else yes, but not that!
1

Seasider added 17:55 - Jan 3 I fear that with a Manager who has no commitment to the club,only to himself,and Evans seemingly happy with this dire situation;then this club could be staring relegation in the face in a couple of months time,if McCarthy is left in charge. I think our Manager shows his attitude at Press Conferences/Interviews after a loss like this by once again reverting to expletives,and rude comments. Surely this gives Evans grounds for dismissal without paying the full compensation;and perhaps would bring this arrogant Yorkshireman down a peg or two.His team is certainly not playing the attractive football they were earlier in the season,and have reverted to the sterile brand we had to endure last season.

7

blueboy1981 added 18:21 - Jan 3 ........ let's blame a young player who made a mistake should we ? - not the Manager who has had more time to sort this mess out, than any other Manager would have had, at any other Club. Sounds all too familiar to me.
3

RRanger added 18:21 - Jan 3 One questionfor Prebbs007: Were you at the game?
0

brittaniaman added 19:17 - Jan 3 If the red card cost us Dino, so what was the excuse for the previous 3 games then ???? 1pt. out of 12 say's enough !!!!!!!!
5

Daleyitfc added 19:24 - Jan 3 Just watched the highlights on here, and it was indeed a fair challenge on Sears before the sending off, so am hoping that we now hear a lot less of the usual crap from MM, now that he has lost his usual vocal orifice.
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tractorboybig added 19:30 - Jan 3 No it was not because we went down to 10 men, its because YOU mm have a crap defence
2

Swn98 added 19:51 - Jan 3 Completely disagree Daley might of been acceptable in 1950 1960 in the modern game it was a foul no ifs or buts
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Rensham added 08:21 - Jan 4 if you sack MM now, ok you'd have to pay him off (not a problem with countless ex-players) but you'd get 5000 fans back straight away which would pay for it . also it would give the new man another transfer window and the max time to prepare for next season. What is the point of MM if his team can't defend?? Get rid after losing to Sheffield Utd. Please fans stay away on Saturday as a protest against MM. He would have been sacked at any of the other 93 league already.

3

Swn98 added 09:45 - Jan 4 Good idea Rensham new manager comes in loses first 10 games then we can sack him and get another manager in just before new season.
0

KiwiBlue2 added 11:05 - Jan 4 Iorfa''s defensive "efforts" sound reminiscent of Mark Fish although Iorfa has on odd ocassions been seen running forward.
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